Pennsylvania HB 1162: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges and for ballots to be issued by election officers only, ballots not to be removed and official ballots only to be deposited or counted; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots, for date of application for absentee ballot, for official absentee voters ballots, for voting by absentee electors and for canvassing of official absentee absentee ballots and mail-in ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots, for official mail-in elector ballots and for voting by mail-in electors.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1288
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1162
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY FINK, HAMM, KAUFFMAN, BERNSTINE, GLEIM, STAATS,
ZIMMERMAN AND ANDERSON, APRIL 7, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 7, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," in preliminary provisions, further providing for
definitions; in county boards of elections, further providing
for powers and duties of county boards; in preparation for
and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for
manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's
certificates, entries to be made in district register,
numbered lists of voters and challenges and for ballots to be
issued by election officers only, ballots not to be removed
and official ballots only to be deposited or counted; in
voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for
applications for official absentee ballots, for date of
application for absentee ballot, for official absentee voters
ballots, for voting by absentee electors and for canvassing
of official absentee absentee ballots and mail-in ballots; in
voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for
applications for official mail-in ballots, for official mail-
in elector ballots and for voting by mail-in electors.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 102(a.1) and (q.1), 302(p), 1210(a.4)(5)
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(i) and (ii)(F), 1219, 1302(i)(1), 1302.1(a.3)(1) introductory
paragraph, (i), (ii) and (iii), (2), (4) and (8), 1303(e),
1306(a) introductory paragraph, (b) and (c), 1308(a) and (g)(1),
(1.1), (2), (3) and (4) introductory paragraph, 1302-D(a) and
(f), 1303-D(e) and 1306-D(a) and (b) of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, are
amended to read:
Section 102. Definitions.--The following words, when used in
this act, shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise
clearly apparent from the context:
* * *
(a.1) The word "canvass" shall [mean the gathering of
ballots after the final pre-canvass meeting and the counting,
computing and tallying of the votes reflected on the ballots.]
include gathering the ballots after the election and counting,
computing and tallying the votes.
* * *
[(q.1) The word "pre-canvass" shall mean the inspection and
opening of all envelopes containing official absentee ballots or
mail-in ballots, the removal of such ballots from the envelopes
and the counting, computing and tallying of the votes reflected
on the ballots. The term does not include the recording or
publishing of the votes reflected on the ballots.]
* * *
Section 302. Powers and Duties of County Boards.--The county
boards of elections, within their respective counties, shall
exercise, in the manner provided by this act, all powers granted
to them by this act, and shall perform all the duties imposed
upon them by this act, which shall include the following:
* * *
20250HB1162PN1288 - 2 -
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(p) A county board of elections shall not pay compensation
to a judge of elections who wilfully fails to deliver by two
o'clock A. M. on the day following the election envelopes;
supplies, including all [uncast] provisional ballots, mail-in
ballots and absentee ballots; and returns, including all
provisional ballots cast in the election district and statements
signed under sections 1306 and 1302-D.
Section 1210. Manner of Applying to Vote; Persons Entitled
to Vote; Voter's Certificates; Entries to Be Made in District
Register; Numbered Lists of Voters; Challenges.--* * *
(a.4) * * *
(5) (i) Except as provided in subclause (ii), if it is
determined that the individual was registered and entitled to
vote at the election district where the ballot was cast, the
county board of elections shall compare the signature on the
provisional ballot envelope with the signature on the elector's
registration form and, if the signatures are determined to be
genuine, shall count the ballot if the county board of elections
confirms that the individual did not cast any other ballot[,
including an absentee ballot,] not voided under sections 1306(b)
or 1306-D(b) in the election.
(ii) A provisional ballot shall not be counted if:
* * *
(F) the elector's absentee ballot or mail-in ballot i